NEW YORK — Two men were convicted Monday of plotting to blow up jet-fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a plan that authorities said was meant to outdo the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and avenge perceived U.S. oppression of Muslims around the world.

Russell Defreitas, a former JFK cargo handler, and Abdul Kadir, once a member of Guyana’s parliament, were convicted of multiple conspiracy charges. Kadir was acquitted of one charge, surveillance of mass transportation. The Brooklyn federal court jury deliberated about five days.

Defreitas, a 66-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Guyana, and Kadir, 58, were arrested in 2007 after an informant infiltrated the plot and recorded them discussing it.

Prosecutors alleged that Defreitas and Kadir wanted to kill thousands of people and cripple the American economy by using explosives to blow up fuel tanks and underground pipelines that run through an adjacent Queens neighborhood. Authorities say the men sought the help of militant Muslims in Guyana, including an al-Qaeda operative.

The defendants wanted to set off an explosion “so massive . . . that it could be seen from far, far away,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Zainab Ahmad said in closing arguments.

Their vision prompted them to code name the plot “The Shining Light,” the prosecutor said.

The two men shut their eyes when the verdict was read and whispered to their attorneys. During the trial, their lawyers described the two men as clueless trash-talkers who were led astray by the informant, a convicted drug dealer.

Both defendants planned to appeal. They face life in prison at their sentencing Dec. 15.

The 7,800-acre Winter Valley Fire in Moffat County was 100 percent contained Tuesday as visible smoke from interior islands showed minimal creeping behavior, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday that he respects the decision of Denver Broncos players on Sunday to protest President Donald Trump and that the president’s NFL criticism was a bid to “distract the country” from his policy failures.